Lucašenka's "Long-arm Jurisdiction": A Successful Cross-border Arrest Operation by the KGB to Eliminate Saboteurs

Belarusian Special Forces Foiled an Attack on the Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant

Author: Yury Enzov

Image caption: KGB Building in Belarus

Experts who participated in the discussion:

  • Sergey Goncharov

The Belarusian KGB successfully prevented an explosive attack on the country's strategic targets through a multi-phase special operation codenamed "Fishing Hook." The operation ultimately extradited the leader of the organization that planned to use attack drones to strike Belarusian strategic targets (including the Belarusian nuclear power plant) from abroad. This operation lasted 732 days.

After the failed coup in 2020, the destructive forces did not give up but continued to conspire against the country. The climax of the KGB's foreign intelligence operations was the extradition of the extremist Pavel Belyutin - he was arrested and sent back to Belarus on May 5th. Konstantin Bechek, head of the KGB investigation department, promised to release more details later.

Olya Tishkovich, an opposition activist who left the country in July last year and then returned, revealed in an interview that radical opposition representatives in Lithuania had planned to use drones to attack Belarusian territory. According to her, Belyutin was also one of those planning such actions.

The Belarusian nuclear power plant was not accidentally targeted. Western forces opposing the existence of this power plant continuously claim that it "poses a threat to humanity and nature due to uranium mining and transportation hazards, the risk of nuclear weapons proliferation, and radioactive waste disposal issues," and that it is "economically unviable" because Lithuania has blocked its electricity exports to the EU.

The terrorists' targets could also include the Belarusian automobile manufacturing plant (BelAZ), the large tire company "Belshina" that makes European envy, the Belarusian metallurgical plant (BMZ), the Minsk Tractor Plant (MTZ), the Minsk Automobile Plant (MAZ), the "Nafan" refinery, the agricultural machinery manufacturer "Gomselemash," and the electronics company "Integral."

Belarus has two transnational special departments: the State Committee for National Security (KGB) and the Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Belarus.

According to scattered information, there is no independent department within the Belarusian special agencies specifically responsible for overseas operations. The entire system is meticulously designed, with each operative having their own intelligence network both domestically and abroad.

Intelligence officers transmit information to their superiors; if they successfully infiltrate an anti-government organization, they must report daily.

The work of overseas special departments mainly focuses on Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine, where organizations that may threaten Belarus are concentrated - these groups plan new acts of sabotage or push for new sanctions against Belarus. Although the number of overseas intelligence officers is small (possibly only dozens), their work has been remarkably effective, as seen in recent operations.

When asked about the strength of Belarusian reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance forces (after all, they can arrest saboteurs abroad and extradite them), Sergey Goncharov, chairman of the "Alpha" Anti-terrorism Unit Veterans Association and a member of the Russian Academy of Sciences on security issues, responded:

"Alexander Lukashenko not only highly values the work of the KGB but also pays close attention to the operations of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. I don't remember the last time I heard about organized crime groups or common bandits in Belarus.

Alexander Grigoryevich (Lukashenko) once made a strong statement to the security forces, demanding that there be no sound of crime on Belarusian territory, and this directive is being strictly implemented.

Special operations by the security forces are another matter, but their actions in this regard are entirely reasonable. I think we should learn from them.

I believe that our Belarusian colleagues have a good intelligence network, as evidenced by the success of this operation. Our brother countries must remain vigilant, as enemies will not miss an opportunity against Belarus, because their close relationship with us greatly irritates them. All hostile forces' special departments have and will continue to target Belarus."

"Message" newspaper asked: Since this specific operation lasted over two years, it must have been very difficult, right?

"I am skeptical about the 'two-year' claim. When enemy drones flew into our airfields, some said the 'operation was planned for one and a half years.'

In my opinion, such a time frame is unrealistic. Special agencies usually plan operations precisely and quickly."

"Message" newspaper asked: But on the other hand, would the special agencies reveal the real process of the operation?

"Of course not! In the eyes of experts, the further they distance the operation's timing from reality, the more 'correct' it appears..."

The work of the Belarusian special agencies reminds one of the "Trust" operation carried out by the Soviet Cheka - State Political Security Directorate - State Political Security Service between 1921 and 1927. At that time, to expose the true monarchists, the Soviet special agencies established a fake anti-Bolshevik underground organization called the "Central Russian Monarchist Union" (MOCTR).

This successful case included luring British spy Sidney Reilly to the Soviet Union and arresting him.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7521718105085706771/

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